//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - Matsunaga Hisahide - An Unexpected Visitor // Story: Heaven's Own Vainglory // by darkstone57 //------------------------------// Matsunaga Hisahide Chapter 1 Location: Outside of Ponyville's Town Date: February 18th, 2036 Equestria, a country that has known peace for quite sometime. Ruled by the two Princesses; The Princess of the Sun, Celestia & The Princess of the Moon, Luna, the citizen's of the land couldn't be happier. However a mysterious entity has appeared, unbeknownst to all, and is strolling towards one of Equestria's well known towns - Ponyville. Who is this being? Where did it come from? Nopony knows. One thing is for certain, whoever this anonymous being is, there is something about this shadow that seems too good to be true.. "Now then, time for me to introduce myself." An Unexpected Visitor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As the sun was elevated into the blue sky, the lives of the citizens of Ponyville was present with a brand new day. Earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi alike woke up and began their daily routines. For one such Pegasus, who lived in a cloud home above the town's vicinity, today felt like it was going to be great day. The owner of the cloud house burst out of the front door with blinding speed, which would have been impossible to follow if it weren't for the rainbow coloured trail she left behind. The Pegasus halted her speed and perched herself on one cloud that had a clear view of the town below. The cyan coloured Pegasus flicked her rainbow coloured mane and tail and wore a confident smile. "I've got a really good feeling about today." said Rainbow Dash. She began flapping her wings and her body rose from the cloud. With her proud posture and confidence written all over her face, she looked around in every direction with her pink eyes. As he her eyes gazed all over the town, she couldn't help but stop when something caught her attention. North of the town, she noticed a silhouette of a tall figure that seemed to be walking towards Ponyville. The smile on her face turned to a jaw that could hit the floor. "What is that!?" Rainbow exclaimed with apprehension. "Whatever it is, I better let Twilight know, she can probably figure out... whatever that is." With her objective in mind, Rainbow bolted towards the Ponyville library. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Around about the same time, Matsunaga continued walking towards the town with both of his hands casually behind his back. Matsunaga is a tall, middle-aged man with black hair with grey stripes in the style of a samurai ponytail, brown eyes, and sports a unique style of facial hair only covering the sides of his cheeks. He wears black and yellow light samurai armor, with an asymmetrical black and white long coat on top. He's also always seen carrying a katana on the left side of his hip, why that is - no-one knows. Calmly and methodically walking towards Ponyville with an almost warm smile, Matsunaga noticed a rainbow trail being directed from a cloud, down towards the town he was approaching. 'Hmm... it seems the introductions will be happening earlier than I thought.' Matsunaga pondered without changing his face. 'Not that it matters. I had a feeling she would notice me first anyway. Though I wonder, a monster or a stranger, which will I be labelled as first?' As his thought's went through his head, his eyes were presented with the town's buildings growing larger. It was obvious he was getting closer but what did get his attention was the sight of two figures standing in the middle of the road, their bodies facing in his direction. Within a couple of minutes, Matsunaga stopped within a few feet of the two figures. One of them was the Pegasus - Rainbow Dash and the other was a lavender unicorn with dark purple mane and tail, both with light purple and pink higlights, as well purple eyes that matched it's colour. The two ponies stared at the man with a puzzled look plastered all over their faces, mouths agape and all. "This is definitely what I didn't see coming." Matsunaga spoke with an equally puzzled look plastered over his face, one that he made sure to put on as he felt he came in range of their line of sight. "I've been here only a day in this part of the country and I find that the land is filled with multi-coloured fairytale-like beings-" Rainbow finally managed to get words out of her mouth in time to cut Matsunaga off. "It spoke!" Rainbow exclaimed in shock as she jumped back a little. 'Monster it is.' Matsunaga thought, stepping back slightly and adding more concern to his look. The purple unicorn turned her head towards Rainbow Dash with a stern look and spoke with a harsh tone "Rainbow, that's not very nice." She returned her focus towards Matsunaga. "Sorry about her, we were just wondering who or what you are? And what do you mean 'this part of the country'?" the lavender unicorn asked. "I was travelling with an acquaintance across Japan towards Oshu." Matsunaga began to explain, keeping his concerned look. "We took refuge overnight on the road and when I woke he was gone. I assumed that he headed towards our destination alone, as I spent the previous day alone walking along the road. Now I am here. This is Oshu... right?" he spoke with a tone that seemed to be losing confidence. "Japan? Oshu? What in the hay are you talking about?" Rainbow Dash spoke again, obviously annoyed with the explanation that was just thrown in her face. "This is Ponyville, a town that is a part of country called Equestria!" Rainbow said with a hint of proudness in her voice. As the words left her mouth, the Pegasus and the unicorn watched as the stranger's face turned from concern to utter shock. His right hand went over his face slowly as he began to increase the pace of his breathing. The large being dropped down to one knee and his face was aimed at the floor. All that could be heard from him was heavy breathing. The purple unicorn began to approach the stranger, with a look of genuine concern on her face. "Hey, hey, take a deep breath ok?" the lavender unicorn said. As instructed, he slowly began taking deep breaths. "From what you are saying, it seems like you somehow woke up from your world into ours." Twilight began speaking softly. "We have never heard of a place called 'Oshu' and definitely never heard of anywhere called 'Japan' either." Matsunaga slowly moved his right hand away from his face. "Another.... world...?" Matsunaga looked at the unicorn with a face that showed a being that just been related with information that is logically impossible to comprehend. The unicorn placed her left hoof on the beings right arm, "I'm afraid so." the unicorn said with pure sympathy. "How about we start with introductions, ok?" A smile formed on her face. "My name is Twilight Sparkle, a unicorn and the owner of a library here in Ponyville." Twilight pointed her right hoof and her line of sight towards the Pegasus hovering where they were originally standing and spoke again with a more positive tone. "My friend here is Rainbow Dash, a Pegasus who is head of the weather team here in Ponyville". "Don't forget the best flier here too!" Rainbow said proudly. "You won't see anything like me in your world!" "Ahem!" Twilight exclaimed sternly. Rainbow put a hoof over head and nervously giggled. "Oops... hehe.." "So, what's your name again?" Twilight asked as she looked at the stranger. Matsunaga seemed to regain his normal breathing pattern. After taking one last deep breath he began to stand up. As he did, he threw a puzzled look at Twilight and then one a Rainbow. After a few moments he looked at the palm of his left hand, closed his eyes and breathed out a heavy sigh. Opening his eyes once more, he turned to Twilight. She tilted her head slightly with a welcoming smile. Matsunaga held out his hand to her. "My name is Matsunaga Hisahide. A human, and for what it seems to be now, I have no profession." said Matsunaga with a small smile appearing across his face. Twilight looked at his hand wondering what he was doing and then it clicked in her mind. She placed her hoof in his hand and they proceed to shake. As they shook, Matsunaga smile grew a bit more and he seemed to be quite calm, Twilight returned the smile. Rainbow came closer to the two. "Since you are new here, it only seems fair we show you around." said Rainbow. Matsunaga released his grip on the handshake and looked at Rainbow, keeping his new smile and calm demeanour. "I would appreciate that." Matsunaga said. "By the way, are there any other humans around per chance?" Twilight then said with sympathy. "I'm sorry, but you are the only human we know of and to be fairly honest, you are the first I think anypony has ever heard of." Her face than was plastered with realisation and her mind went a thousand miles an hour. 'Oh my goodness!! A being, a human, from another world! I cannot believe it! I wonder if there are more? How many more though? I wonder if they use magic like us and ca--' "Twilight!" Rainbow exclaimed, cutting Twilight's thought process. "What?" Twilight asked. She then realised she was smiling because of the information that just blew her mind. Almost immediately she put a hoof over head and nervously giggled. "Ehehe...sorry.." Matsunaga chuckled slightly. "Pay no mind to it, Ms. Sparkle." "Rainbow's right though, we should show you around. On the way, we can head to the library and I can send the princess a letter about your situation and maybe she can help you out." Twilight explained. Rainbow nodded in agreement. "Your world has a princess? Are you acquainted with her well?" Matsunaga asked and Twilight responded with a nod. "I'm her student." Twilight said with a hint of pride. "Student, you say?" Matsunaga said with a voice of genuine surprise. He then proceeded to take a step back to bow the upper half of his body to Twilight. "I would be humbled with your assistance, Ms. Sparkle." Twilight cheeks turned slightly pink and couldn't help release a nervous giggle. "No need to be so formal, shall we get going?" Twilight turned a pointed a hoof towards Ponyville. Matsunaga then returned his former posture with his hands behind his back and a warm smile on his face. "Please, lead the way." Matsunaga said. Twilight began to walk back into the town and Rainbow hovered to her right, following alongside her. Matsunaga began to equal his walking pace with theirs. As the trio walked into Ponyville, Matsunaga was enjoying the welcoming feeling and his warm smile grew a bit more across his middle aged face. While the calmness of the situation portrayed a positive atmosphere, Matsunaga's thoughts were something that the two girls next to him would not expect. 'Hm, that was almost too easy.' Matsunaga thought calmly, his expression not changing to match his thoughts. 'It's good that they rolled out the red carpet for me, but I mustn't get too coy. Good thing's come to those who wait, so it will be a pleasure to meet you at last, won't it? Princess Celestia.' To Be Continued